Only available to UK residents over 18, subject to terms and conditions.

Rates of finance offered in this calculator are based on this specific product and can be applied for once this item has been added to basket. When adding multiple items to the basket it is possible that promotional rates may change.

Product Description

Icon Audio EL34D Pure Triode Valve upgrade is suitable for any valve amplifier that accepts EL34 and ideal for modern amps to offer warm vintage sound for EL34 and KT66 amplifiers.

Powerful & Efficient

The Mullard developed EL34 introduced in the early ’50s was a remarkable achievement. Powerful, efficient, with high gain, just what was needed in the post war boom of hi fi. Unfortunately like all Pentode valves the sound was not acceptable for hi fi until the “Ultralinear” or “UL” transformer was developed (half pentode half triode) to improve the harsh grainy sound quality, and that situation remains today.

UL/Triode Mode

Although “UL” is a good compromise for sound quality and power, pure triode operation is preferred where amplifiers have switchable UL/Triode mode. As this is closer to the low distortion near sonic perfection of the 300B/845 etc vintage pure triode valves, but to make the change you would normally have to change your amplifier at great cost. So Icon Audio have developed the EL34D (D for triode) an EL34 compatible valve but with all the characteristics of a vintage pure triode which can be used in virtually all existing EL34 amplifiers giving 100% PURE TRIODE sound instead of 50%.

Macro Detail

It gives a smoother more transparent sound like a veil being lifted away, revealing more macro detail and natural sound. The EL34D is handmade to the highest standards in Europe and should outlast a standard EL34 as it is less complicated and does not have the G2 grid which is a common cause of failure in EL34s and all pentode valves.

Pure Triode

The valve may cause a 3db loss of power which is hardly noticeable however you can always revert back to your standard EL34s for more power if you need to. Because the EL34D is simplified, any switch becomes redundant as the EL34D is operating in pure triode at all times. The EL34D is a true Triode and therefore behaves the same as 300B/2A3 and other pure triode valves.

Leak amplifier

To use with your leak amplifier, simply insert them and the UL connection is ignored so they can only work as pure triode valves with no modification. That is also true of virtually all self bias (auto bias) amps including the QUAD II etc. For fixed bias amps the bias should be adjusted in the same way as a new set of valves to the same setting as EL34.

Customer Reviews

john duncan innes

28 Apr 2016

I have four Audio Innovation1000 mono amps bi-amped to Impulse H2 horns.
I do not see any problem with -3db as I never play them that loud as my sons complain.
I replaced the EL34 's, albeit I preferred their sound, because they shorted out other components. They were replaced with 5881 which have never caused any problems
Will the EL34D sound as good or better than EL34 and be as reliable as the 5881?